Cast-off Guard Gets Offensive

July 8, 2000|By ALEX MARVEZ Staff Writer

For the record, add ex-Dolphins right guard Kevin Gogan to the list of those disgusted by the play of the team's offensive line last season.

One day after right guard Kevin Donnalley and offensive line coach Paul Boudreau spoke about the unit's difficulties in 1999, Gogan weighed in with his thoughts Friday in a telephone interview from his Seattle-area home.

"I think we never got that cohesiveness," said Gogan, who started 10 games last season while splitting playing time with Donnalley. "I'd say of the 13 years I've played, 12 of those years the offensive line was the best group on the team. The guys hung out and had fun together and didn't get sensitive on each other and take things personally.

"That was my biggest gripe. I didn't feel we were the best group on the team last year."

On Thursday, Boudreau said splitting playing time between Donnalley and Gogan caused problems between linemen who chose sides between the two players.

Donnalley expressed his displeasure with the rotating right guard system employed by ex-coach Jimmy Johnson and said Gogan "sometimes took things out on me that he really should have been upset with the coaches about, because ultimately it was their decision to have to rotate."

Gogan didn't try to deny the problems or champion the rotation system.

"Were there some rifts in there? Yeah, I think there were," said Gogan, who was acquired in an offseason trade in 1999 after a Pro Bowl season in San Francisco. "The way I look at it, I've got no problem with one guy. If they want to sit there and tell themselves that's the reason [for the line's struggles], then that's great. They can fool themselves all day long. I've got no problem with that.

"It was horrible. And I know it was horrible for Donnalley, too."

Donnalley said Friday that the line has worked toward becoming a tighter-knit unit in the offseason, with three players holding get-togethers at their houses.

"Guys have a better understanding," said Donnalley, who was released by the Dolphins in May and re-signed a month later. "More cohesion and togetherness and camaraderie will produce a better line."

The Dolphins finished 1999 with the NFL's 20th-ranked offense and had only one running back post a 100-yard game, the team's lowest total since the 1989 season.

To say the line was the main reason for the lack of offensive productivity would be unfair, as the Dolphins also battled problems ranging from a decaying quarterback (Dan Marino) to five different starters causing instability at tailback. But Gogan believes splitting playing time with Donnalley didn't help.

"It just real frustrating," Gogan said. "When I talked to Dave [Wannstedt] after the season, I said I'd like him to do something with me [immediately]. Within a week, I had been released. It was a real classy move."

Gogan has since signed with San Diego, where the 35-year old plans to play for one season before retiring. Gogan admits the past season with the Dolphins has provided inspiration to not end his career on a sour note.

Gogan also questions whether the Dolphins will field a better line this season, especially after last month's release of right tackle James Brown. Backup Brent Smith and rookie Todd Wade are now battling for the starting spot.

"I think the James Brown incident was a sham," Gogan said. "That was a huge injustice to him. I'm not saying that being a friend, but he did a real nice job playing four or five games with a high ankle sprain [in 1999].

"I just don't see how the line can be better than what it was or what it should have been. They have the right ingredients. But better? I don't know if the guys are right."